When Venus in Fur was nominated for a Tony Award and won a slew of NY awards including a Tony for its star Nina Arianda, I filed it away with dozens of of other great stage productions that I figured I’d never have a chance to see. A stylized two-person black comedy involving the erotic head games between a playwright and an actress during an audition? Not something Hollywood would likely touch. Thanks to Roman Polanski, we don’t have to rely on Hollywood. He’s adapting the play with its original author David Ives and it will be filmed in French, starring Emmanuelle Seigner and Louis Garrel. Polanski who directed Seigner in Frantic and Bitter Moon, says the project will fulfill a wish he’s had for years.
“I’ve been looking for a chance to make a film in French with Emmanuelle for a long time. Reading ‘Venus in Fur’ I realized the moment had arrived. I got so fired up to put this brilliant black comedy on film that I decided to fit it in before ‘D.,’ whose screenplay and pre-production will demand a few more months. Louis Garrel and Emmanuelle Seigner will make for a stunning duo.” (Coming Soon)
“A stylized two-person black comedy involving the erotic head games between a playwright and an actress during an audition? Not something Hollywood would likely touch.”
It doesn’t completely match that description but Oleanna comes to mind.
Gotta be honest, it’s criminal that Nina Arianda isn’t doing this. Anyone who has seen the play will understand that. Just a shame. Loved Carnage personally, I do have doubts about the translation of this one to screen however.
I’m worried. I actually was a fan of Carnage the movie, but Venus In Fur is probably my favorite play I’ve ever actually seen on Broadway. It is tragic that Nina Arianda won’t be reprising her role as she was a force of nature. I think Polanski’s wife is too old as well.
I liked the old movie VENUS IN FURS quite a bit. I guess they’re based on the same thing but they couldn’t sound any more different.
I liked CARNAGE, but never saw the play.
Polanski didn’t ruin God of Carnage. It was never going to work on film. I’d hazard a guess, though, based on that film’s screenplay, that I wouldn’t have liked it much on stage either.
Stage-to-screen adaptations don’t usually get me very excited, particularly when they’re smaller, wordier productions such as this. Les Mis, on the other hand, seems made for the big screen.
Mrs Polanski in the lead.. not very excited about it.
Agreed, Nick.
I’ve seen the play and it was amazing. I just wish Nina Arianda had the opportunity to be in the film version. Dancy was excellent, but she was phenomenal.
The big fear here is that he RUINED “God of Carnage.” Will he do the same to this fine play?